Pressure sensing in paintball markers

ABSTRACT

There is disclosed a paintball marker of a type having a pneumatic system ( 8 ) integrated into the framework ( 1 ) of the marker for the delivery of a pressurised gas supply through a regulator ( 15 ) to a drive system ( 26/27 ) for firing a paintball. The marker includes at least one pressure sensor ( 21 ) disposed in a manner and position to measure the operating gas pressure at a selected location within the marker.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to paintball markers. More particularly although not exclusively it discloses improvements related to pressure measurement in pneumatically powered paintball markers.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority to currently pending Australian Patent Application 2012903190; filed 26 Jul. 2012; titled IMPROVEMENTS IN PRESSURE SENSING IN PAINTBALL MARKERS.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

None

REFERENCE TO A MICROFICHE APPENDIX

None

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

A paintball marker (a.k.a. paintball gun) may broadly be considered as a large pneumatic valve. This valve is opened to allow a short blast of compressed gas to fire a paintball. The design of the valve differs greatly as does the choice of control. It can vary from mechanical means to solenoid piloted systems. The velocity at which the paintball or similar projectile is fired is usually controlled by the pressure of the gas (using a gas regulator or similar), or the valve dynamics (using the control system), or a combination of both.

In the case of current state of the art, feature rich and electronically controlled paintball markers it is common to control the velocity and overall operation of the paintball marker by adjusting the gas pressure. For this reason details of the pressure used within the marker and the reliability or consistency of this pressure may be of intense interest to a user.

The user however usually finds measurement of internal pressures difficult. Most manufacturers have developed tools which can be installed into the paintball marker for the express purpose of measuring these pressures. In every case this has involved an adaptor of some type connected to a conventional gauge to measure the pressure. In some cases one can cycle the marker and watch the behaviour of the gauge to determine (qualitatively) the performance characteristics of the marker. Paintball marker models are also becoming more compact and pneumatic systems are becoming more integrated into the system. For instance, external hoses are increasingly replaced by internal drilling or hoses. This makes pressure measurement by prior art means more difficult.

The gas pressure data is useful in two forms; static and dynamic. The static pressure held in the system while the marker is at rest (waiting to be fired) gives an indication of the pressure required to perform the job of firing the paintball. When it is compared against a standard or historic data this can give an indication of the efficiency or effectiveness of the system. Dynamic data measurement taken during the cycling action of the paintball marker can provide information about the individual parts and their effectiveness. For example the value to which the pressure drops during a cycle can be used to draw conclusions about the effectiveness of the regulator supplying the pressure.

The useful feedback of this information can be in many forms, the most simple is the feedback of the pressure measurements via a digital readout. A more complex application would be feedback to a microprocessor where the data gathered could be compared with historic or standard trends to draw conclusions and these conclusions used to provide feedback. For example, during a cycle the firing valve is opened by the control system. While the valve is open a pressure drop will be observed over the system. Dynamic measurement of the pressure drop will yield a pressure minimum value as well as a time taken to reach and recover from that minimum. When compared against a standard predetermined set of values conclusions may be drawn regarding the flow of the firing valve (pressure drop rate) and the effectiveness of the supply regulator (pressure recovery rate). This data could be fed back to the user directly in the form of messages such as: pressure regulator requires servicing (because the regulator effectiveness data is low), or valve requires servicing (because the valve flow appears to be low).

In accordance with the invention the usefulness of this data can be increased by comparing the data gathered from the pressure sensor with other operating data such as the signals sent and received by the control system. In this manner a sophisticated system of data gathering and feedback can be implemented. For example, the current system may use an optical beam sensor for the purpose of monitoring the paintball or projectile (to ensure it is in place) and the action of the reciprocating part (firing bolt) used to fire the paintball. A measurement of the time taken between sending the cycle signal to the solenoid valve, the time taken for the bolt to pass the beam sensor, and the behaviour of the pressure profile during that time may be used to draw conclusions about the effectiveness of any part of the system. In this way different sensors may be combined to provide a more complete picture of the overall system.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION

It is therefore an object of the invention to augment the pressure information available to a user by providing an improved means for measuring internal operating pressures of the marker at one or more locations.

It is a further object to integrate pressure sensors into the framework of the marker for the purpose of measuring and/or processing data on gas pressure.

It is a further object to use said measured internal operating pressure to provide meaningful feedback to a user.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, in one broad form this invention discloses a paintball marker of a type having an pneumatic system for delivery of a pressurised gas supply through a regulator to a drive system for firing a paint ball wherein said marker includes at least one pressure sensor or transducer disposed at a position to measure the operating gas pressure at a selected location within said marker.

Preferably said at least one pressure sensor is located downstream of the regulator.

It is further preferred that said at least one sensor is located in a manifold downstream of the regulator and upstream of said drive system

It is further preferred that said at least one sensor is mounted and sealed by means of a sensor board in communication with a control board having a OLED or LCD module for display of information to a user.

It is further preferred that both static and dynamic operating pressures are measured.

In another broad form the invention discloses a means of using said measured internal operating gas pressure in combination with other operating data to provide a meaningful feedback to the user.

Preferably said other operating data may include but is not limited to signals sent and received by a control system of the marker. Such signals may include a measurement of the time taken between sending a cycle signal to a solenoid valve and the time taken for the firing bolt to pass an optical beam sensor.

Preferably said other operating data may also include the time taken to reach and recover from a pressure drop measured during a firing cycle when the firing valve opened by the control system.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Preferred embodiments of the invention will now be described with reference to the attached drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional elevation view of a paintball marker in accordance with said invention,

FIG. 2 is an assembly view of the paintball marker of FIG. 1,

FIG. 3 is a detailed view of the air manifold for the paintball marker of FIG. 1,

FIG. 4 is a transducer flow chart for a paintball marker pneumatic system with one air regulator, and

FIG. 5 is a transducer flow chart for a second embodiment of a paintball marker pneumatic system with two air regulators.

Referring first to FIGS. 1, 2 and 3 the paintball marker comprises a main body or framework indicated generally as 1, a barrel 2, a front handgrip 3, a rear handgrip 4, a feed tube 5 from a paintball loader (not shown) and a trigger 6. High pressure air is delivered to the system using a standard air delivery port 7. This air travels through a channel or hole in the grip frame 8 until it reaches the rear section of a manifold 9 and is allowed in through the hole 10. Air passes through a high pressure passage 11, into a connecting hole in the front section of the manifold 12. This high pressure air is then directed through the hole 13 to another channel 14 leading to an air regulator 15. The regulated air output (of the order of 100 psig) is referred to here as low pressure, and is directed into an outlet chamber 16. This regulated air is directed through a hole 17 into the front part of the manifold 12 and into a low pressure passage 19. This low pressure hole feeds regulated air through outlet hole 19A to the firing chamber input 22, and through the transducer input 22A to the sensor board mounted pressure transducer 21. The solenoid valve input hole 23, delivers air to the solenoid 20, which allows switching between two different air paths (24 and 25), which in turn deliver air to the front and rear of the pneumatic ram or drive system (26 and 27 respectively). The operation of the solenoid valve 20, and processing of data from the pressure transducer(s) is controlled by a printed circuit board (or control board) 28, powered by a battery 29.

The pneumatic ram is configured so that when air is switched between ports 26 and 27, the air in the firing chamber 32 is released to fire a paintball. The combination of pneumatic ram 26/27 and firing chamber 32 may be referred to as a drive system.

With this embodiment the manifold is preferably constructed in two parts with a connecting 0-ring seal 30.

An infrared or visible light sensor 31 is connected to the control board 28, for the main purpose of determining if a paintball is loaded correctly, allowing the system to adjust the control behaviour if a ball is not loaded correctly.

In accordance with the invention a pressure transducer 21 is positioned in the manifold 9 downstream of the regulator 15 and upstream of the drive system 26/27. It is mounted and sealed by means of a sensor board 21A which is in communication with the control board 28. The control board preferably has an OLED module for the purpose of displaying information to the user including sensor status. As the design and construction of the sensor_board is known art within the capabilities of a skilled technician (e.g. PNE Electronics of Auburn New South Wales Australia) it will not be described in detail.

Preferably the transducer 21 is positioned downstream from the inline regulator 15 and/or upstream from the pneumatic ram 26/27 or firing chamber 32. This allows the transducer 21 to measure both static pressure and dynamic behaviour of both the regulator 15 and pneumatic ram 26/27 or firing chamber 32.

If the system has multiple regulators or solenoid valves, then multiple transducers should preferably be used.

Information from the transducer may be correlated with other data sources which may include an infrared sensor 31 in the firing system.

During static usage, the pressure transducer(s) 21 will report the pressure output of regulator(s) 15 in the system. During dynamic usage, that is during a firing cycle, air will be drawn away by one of the pneumatic devices downstream (in this case the pneumatic ram control 26/27, or a firing chamber 32). During this dynamic stage, there will be a pressure drop (during load) and a recovery (after load is removed). The collection and processing of this data can be used to provide the following information:

-   -   Pressure drop rate of change: the rate of change of pressure         drop is an indication of the flow in the downstream load     -   Pressure drop minimum value: the minimum value may be correlated         with both load and regulator performance     -   Pressure drop response time: the time taken between signal and         observed pressure drop is an indication of the pneumatic load         performance.     -   Recovery rate of change: similar to pressure drop rate of         change, this is an indicator of regulator performance     -   Comparison of pre shot pressure, and post shot pressure (static)         whereby the difference between these two values is a measurement         of regulator consistency

In accordance with the invention the electronics system is configured to record these values, and check them against expected values. If they are outside expected values, the system will draw conclusions and suggest them to the user. For example, if the recovery response time is too slow, the user may be advised that their regulator(s) require maintenance.

With the arrangement shown in FIG. 4 high pressure air 7 is regulated by a single air regulator 15. A transducer 21 is mounted downstream to measure both the pressure in the system at rest, and also the dynamic pressure (represented by a double headed arrow). Regulated air is split between the solenoid valve 20 used for controlling the firing sequence and also the pneumatic firing chamber 32, which is the reservoir used for the firing of the paintball.

The arrangement shown in FIG. 5 is preferably used if the pressure required in the pneumatic firing chamber 32 is different to the pressure required for the solenoid actuating system 20. High pressure air 7 is regulated by regulator 15A, the output of which is delivered to the firing chamber 32, the first pressure transducer 21A and the input to the second air regulator 15B. As shown in FIG. 5 regulated air from the second air regulator 15B is delivered to both a second pressure transducer 21B and the solenoid valve 20 for controlling the firing sequence.

The currently preferred form of pressure sensor (transducer) used with the described embodiments is a MS11-0330-11 manufactured by Merit Sensors USA. The invention however is not limited to this and may extend to any other suitable device.

It will thus be appreciated that this invention at least in the form of the embodiment described provides novel and useful improvements to paintball markers. Clearly however the example described is only the currently preferred form of the invention and a wide variety of modifications may be made which would be apparent to a person skilled in the art. For example the sensor could be mounted with or without a sensor board. The transducer could be a piezo, resistive or any other type of pressure transducer. The sensor would have a method of feeding back the information to the user, a control system, or a separate module. The sensor could also be placed in positions downstream of the regulator other than that described in the embodiment. In the case of marker configurations that use multiple regulators sensors downstream of each regulator could be used to perform the functions described above. Where multiple pressures are to be measured for different sections of the marker a separate sensor may be used for each pressure or region. While the described embodiment refers to the use of air the scope of the invention is to be taken as covering any suitable gas such as for example CO2 or N2. Further, although the embodiment described uses an internal pneumatic system integrated into the framework of the marker the scope of the invention is not so limited and extends to partially or completely external pneumatic systems. 

1. A paintball marker of a type having an pneumatic system for delivery of a supply of pressurised gas through a regulator to a drive system for firing a paintball wherein said marker includes at least one pressure sensor or transducer disposed at a position to measure an operating gas pressure at a selected location within said marker.
 2. The paintball marker as claimed in claim 1 wherein said at least one pressure sensor or transducer is located downstream of the regulator.
 3. The paintball marker as claimed in claim 2 wherein said at least one pressure sensor or transducer is located upstream of said drive system.
 4. The paintball marker as claimed in claim 3 wherein said at least one sensor or transducer is adapted to measure both static pressure and dynamic behaviour of both said regulator and a firing valve.
 5. The paintball marker as claimed in claim 4 wherein said at least one pressure sensor or transducer is located in a manifold.
 6. The paintball marker as claimed in claim 5 wherein said at least one pressure sensor or transducer is mounted and sealed by means of a sensor board in communication with a control board and OLED or LCD display module.
 7. The paintball marker as claimed in claim 1 wherein there are first and second regulators, a first output from said first regulator being delivered to said drive system for firing a paintball and a second output from said second regulator being delivered to a solenoid valve for controlling said drive system and first and second pressure sensors or transducers for measuring said first and second outputs.
 8. A method of measuring or monitoring the operation of a paintball marker of a type having an pneumatic system for delivery of a supply of pressurised gas through a regulator to a drive system for firing a paintball and at least one pressure sensor or transducer located downstream of said regulator and upstream of said drive system, said method including the step of measuring by said at least one pressure sensor or transducer static and dynamic pressure profiles of said pressurised gas during operation of said marker and comparing said profiles with other operating data including signals send and received by a control board.
 9. The method as claimed in claim 8 wherein said method includes a further step of drawing conclusions regarding the flow of a firing valve and the operational effectiveness of said regulator after the step of comparing said profiles with other operating data including signals sent and received by a control board.
 10. The method as claimed in claim 9 wherein said dynamic pressure profiles include a rate of change of a pressure drop to provide an indication of the air flow in a downstream load.
 11. The method as claimed in claim 9 wherein said dynamic pressure profiles include a pressure drop minimum value for correlation with a downstream load and regulator performance.
 12. The method as claimed in claim 9 wherein said dynamic pressure profiles include a pressure drop response time whereby a time taken between a signal and an observed pressure drop is an indication of a pneumatic load performance.
 13. The method as claimed in claim 9 wherein said dynamic pressure profiles include a recovery rate of pressure change to provide an indication of regulator performance.
 14. The method as claimed in claim 9 wherein said dynamic pressure profiles include a pre-shot pressure and a post-shot pressure whereby the difference therebetween is an indication of regulator consistency 